Modi urges all parties to support demonetisation in Winter Session

Amidst a flurry of reactions from various parties on the demonetisation issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the demonetisation move a “crusade” against black money and urged all parties at the all party meeting on Tuesday to show support for the demonetisation policy in national interest. The meeting, held ahead of the Winter Session, was chaired by PM Modi. “We have launched a crusade against corruption, black money and fake currency, which is also behind cross-border terrorism. All parties should come together on this issue of national interest,” he said.

The Prime Minister also initiated the idea of having both Lok Sabha elections and Rajya Sabha elections together and said a discussion on this should be held in the Winter Session.

“A crucial problem is how to make political funding transparent. How to implement state funding of elections. Let all political parties debate it and come to a conclusion. Let’s remove the question mark which exists against those in public life. Polls happen separately. Let there be one election, simultaneous elections,” he said.

The government also made it clear that it is ready for discussion on all issues regarding the country with PM Modi hoping for a fruitful session as he recalled the passage of the GST Bill in the last session with the cooperation of all parties.

Opposition to the demonetisation move has come from all parties, with many calling it a ‘draconian’ step. Long lines have ensued outside banks and ATMs with people waiting to get there money exchanged or deposited.

Sensing that difficulty in exchanging and withdrawing cash could turn into public anger against the Central government, the BJP on Monday asked its leaders across the country to extend assistance to the people and stepped up the offensive against the Opposition for criticising the move to ban currency notes of higher denomination.

The BJP parliamentary party executive committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday discussed the arrangements to ease the implementation of the decision. However, PM Modi has stated that there will be no rollback on the decision.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged the decision to invalidate Rs 1000/500 currency notes was leaked in advance to some people, including BJP leaders, and called it probably the “biggest scam”. He, however, added that his party is not for its rollback.